The Italian Job Role: Computer expert - for disabling the Turin traffic control centre. Previous Convictions: n/a "Are they big? I like them big....BIG" Real name: Benny Hill (Birth name: Alfred Hawthorn Hill) Born: 21st January 1924 in Southampton, Hampshire, UK Died: 18th April 1992 in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. (heart attack) Other: Was introduced to the theatre and Burlesque Shows by his grandfather when he was young - it was this experience that brought out his effortless comic timing and acting ability. BIOGRAPHY - A Glimpse... Drawn to the lights of London.. Hill's blossoming theatre talents were cut short by the second World War. After serving in the British army he was drawn to the lights of London, UK. He appearing in variety shows and it was there that he adopted the stage name Benny Hill (after one of his favourite comedians, Jack Benny).

He went on to form a short double act with Reg Varney and did various radio shows, but it was his talent for impressions and comic timing that were to give him his first big break on TV with the show Hi There in 1949. Instant hit The Benny Hill Show aired in 1955 and Hill had an instant hit on his hands. The shows controversial slapstick comedy, cheeky humour, songs and impressions were to make it a hit for the next 40 years. He also had a hit record with Ernie The Fastest Milkman In The West and was handed film scripts left, right and centre - he played cameo parts in Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines, The Italian Job and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A much loved star... In 1979 The Benny Hill Show hit the shores of the US for the first time. It was an instant hit with the American audience and he became a much loved star. The show won a Golden Rose Of Montreaux Award and a BAFTA and was aired worldwide in over 100 countries.

Hill's long television career came to an end when his show was canned in 1989, but he carried on working in the US until a heart attack got the best of this great man in 1992. Career Information 20a The_Italian_Job.ppt - 1969 The Italian Job 1969 Dir. Peter Collinson 20a The_Italian_Job.ppt 20a The_Italian_Job.ppt - 1969 The Italian Job 1969 Dir.... SCHOOL View Full Document The Italian Job • 1969 • Dir. Peter Collinson • Nominated for the 1970 Golden Globe for the Best English Language Foreign Film (i.e. non-US) • Car chase voted 17 th coolest movie moment of all time by Empire Cast Michael Caine – Charlie Croker Noel Coward – Mr. Bridger Maggie Blye – Lorna Tony Beckley – ‘Camp’ Freddie Benny Hill – Professor Peach Raf Vallone – Altabani This preview has intentionally blurred sections. Sign up to view the full version.

View Full Document Charlie Croker was not Caine’s first Cockney character, having already appeared as the Cockney spy Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File (1965) and the lovable rogue Alfie (1966) Noel Coward Coward was a long-established actor, writer, director, and wit, and perhaps the first ‘Brit pop’ star – he wrote the song Mad Dogs and Englishmen … Bridger is a ‘Mr. Big’ running a criminal empire from prison He first appeared on-screen in 1918, but his breakthrough came with the WWII film In Which We Serve (1942). He died in 1973 This preview has intentionally blurred sections. Sign up to view the full version. The Italian Job (1969) | Rinema The Italian Job (1969) Signin to view reviews from people you are following. From Everybody: Production Plot: A Lamborghini Miura drives through the Italian Alps and enters a tunnel, where it crashes and explodes, killing the driver.

A bulldozer pushes the remains from the tunnel and dumps them down a steep alpine gorge, while a sharp suited mafioso throws a wreath.Some time later, dapper mobster Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) is released from prison. He soon meets with the widow (Lelia Goldoni) of his friend and fellow thief Roger Beckermann (Rossano Brazzi), victim of the Miura crash. She gives Croker her husband's plans for the robbery that attracted the hostile attention of his killers, the Italian Mafia. The plans outline a way to steal 4 million dollars worth of Chinese gold sent to Italy, as a deposit for a Fiat factory to be built in China, and spirit the gold bullion out of Italy.Croker decides to continue the plan despite the risks, but needs a large, well-equipped gang. He breaks into jail to meet Mr Bridger (Noël Coward), a criminal who runs a gangland empire from prison.

Croker explains "the Italian job" but Bridger dismisses the plan out of hand, and indeed orders Croker be given "a good going-over" for disturbing his privacy.Bridger changes his mind shortly after, and, with this backing, Croker assembles a group including computer expert Professor Peach (Benny Hill), electronics handler Birkinshaw (Fred Emney) and several crime scene getaway drivers. The plan calls for Peach to infect Turin's computerised traffic control to create a paralysing traffic jam that will prevent the police from recapturing the gold. Three Mini Cooper S's, able to navigate the gridlock in unconventional ways, will follow Beckermann's route through Turin to evacuate the gold.After planning and training, Croker and crew set out for Turin. Mafia boss Altabani (Raf Vallone), who had been seen in the opening sequence, is waiting at an Alpine pass with a front-end loader. It damages their two Jaguar E-types and flips Croker's Aston Martin DB4 into the gorge, but Croker talks their way out of being killed by promising the Italian community in Britain will suffer reprisals if anything happens to them.

He gathers the gang and has Peach load his guerrilla software into the traffic control computer the night before the heist. The next day Birkinshaw jams the closed circuit television that monitors traffic, just before Peach's software goes off and the city comes to a horn-honking standstill. The gang converge on the gold convoy, overpower the guards, pull the armoured car into the entrance hall of the Museo Egizio, and lock the doors.Inside, the gang transfer the gold to the Minis. Altabani recognises that "If they planned this traffic jam, then they must have planned a way out of it." The three Minis race through the shopping arcades of the Via Roma, up the sail-like roof of the Torino Palavela, around the rooftop test track of the Fiat Lingotto factory and down the steps of the Gran Madre di Dio church while a wedding is in progress. The gang escapes by driving through a large sewer pipe, throwing off the police. The gang make their final getaway on a six-wheeled Harrington Legionnaire-bodied Bedford VAL coach, driving up a ramp on the back while the coach is travelling.

Once the gold has been unloaded, the gang push the Minis out of the coach as it negotiates hairpin bends in the Alps.Charlie and the Mini crews meet the rest of the gang, who had sneaked out of the city disguised as English football fans in a minivan. On their way to Switzerland on a winding mountain road, the celebration grows raucous as beer flows. When driver Big William sends the coach into a skid, the back of the bus is left teetering over a cliff and the gold slides towards the rear doors. As Croker attempts to reach the gold, it slips further, and the audience is left not knowing whether the coach, its contents, or its occupants survive a literal cliffhanger. Release Dates: Theatrical : 1969-09-03 : United States of America DVD : 2003-10-07 The Italian Job - Alchetron, The Free Social Encyclopedia I Love to read n write about Interesting People The Italian Job Country United Kingdom Release date 2 June 1969 (1969-06-02) Cast Michael Caine (Charlie Croker), Noël Coward (Mr.

Bridger), Benny Hill (Professor Simon Peach), Margaret Blye (Lorna), Raf Vallone (Altabani), Tony Beckley (Freddie) Similar movies Blackhat, Son of a Gun, Horrible Bosses 2, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Italian Job, The Last Stand Tagline Introducing the plans for a new business venture: "The Italian Job." Mini cooper chase the italian job 6 10 movie clip 1969 hd Sponsored Links A British crook (Michael Caine) robs gold ingots in Italy by having a computer expert (Benny Hill) cause a traffic jam. The Italian Job is a 1969 British caper film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin, produced by Michael Deeley and directed by Peter Collinson. Subsequent television showings and releases on video have made it well known in the United Kingdom. Its soundtrack was composed by Quincy Jones, and includes "On Days Like These" sung by Matt Monro over the opening credits, and "Getta Bloomin Move On" (usually referred to as "The Self-Preservation Society", after its chorus) during the climactic car chase. Lead actor Michael Caine is among its singers.

In November 2004, Total Film named The Italian Job the 27th greatest British film of all time. The line "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" by Caine was voted favourite film one-liner in a 2003 poll of 1,000 film fans. The popularity of the film has led to parodies and allusions in other films and productions, including a 2003 remake. The story of the film inspired the 2012 Hindi film Players, which emerged a commercial failure. Charlie 's got a 'job' to do. Having just left prison he finds one his of friends has attempted a high risk job in Italy, right under the nose of the mafia. Charlie's friend doesn't get very far, so Charlie takes over the 'job'. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal a fortune in gold and escape in the chaos.

The italian job 5 10 movie clip gold heist 1969 hd Plot Charlie Croker (Michael Caine), a Cockney gangster, is released from prison with the intent of doing a "big job" in Italy. He soon meets with the widow (Lelia Goldoni) of his friend and fellow thief Roger Beckermann (Rossano Brazzi), who was killed driving a Lamborghini Miura in a car crash in the Italian Alps. The car crash was arranged by the Mafia. The widow gives Croker her husbands plans for the robbery that attracted the hostile attention of his killers, and which detail a way to steal 4 million dollars worth of Chinese gold in Italy, and escape with it to Switzerland. Cliffhanger the italian job 10 10 movie clip 1969 hd Croker attempts to finance the job and recruit a gang, by breaking back into his former prison to meet Mr. Bridger (Noel Coward), the head of a huge criminal empire, who has bribed almost all of the prison guards to work for him. Bridger initially rejects the plan, but changes his mind when he realises the effect it would have on the Italians.

With Bridgers backing, Croker assembles a group including computer expert Professor Peach (Benny Hill), electronics handler Birkinshaw (Fred Emney) and several others for the getaway and the robbery. The plan calls for Peach to replace the programme in the computer driving Turins traffic control system, to create a paralysing traffic jam that will prevent the police from recapturing the gold. Some of the gang will use three cars (one Mini Cooper S and two base models) to transport the gold out of the city via a planned route to avoid the gridlock, while the rest escape disguised as football supporters. They will then rendezvous and drive to Switzerland. After planning and training, Croker and crew set out for Turin. Mafia boss Altabani (Raf Vallone) is waiting in the Alps at the same pass where Beckermann was killed. He warns them that the Mafia are aware of their intentions and destroys their vehicles: Crokers personal Aston Martin DB4 Volante, and two Jaguar E-Types. However, Croker talks their way out of being killed by assuring him that Mr. Bridger will avenge their deaths by looting and attacking the Italian community in Britain.

Altabani lets them go, ordering them to return to England. Croker, undeterred, gathers the gang and has Peach load his guerilla software into the traffic control computer the night before the heist. The next day Birkinshaw jams the closed circuit television that monitors traffic, just before Peachs software goes off and the city comes to a standstill. The gang converge on the gold convoy, overpower the guards, pull the armoured car into the entrance hall of the Museo Egizio, and lock the doors. Inside, the gang transfer the gold to the Minis. Altabani recognises that "If they planned this traffic jam, then they must have planned a way out of it." The three Minis race through the shopping arcades of the city and negotiate the traffic jams by a pre-planned route. The getaway is timed perfectly, and they escape by driving through a large sewer pipe, throwing off the police. They then transfer the gold onto a coach and dispose of the Minis, before driving on to the Alps. Charlie and the Mini crews meet the rest of the gang, who had sneaked out of the city disguised as English football fans in a minibus.

Celebrating in the coach, they quickly become drunk and unable to concentrate. When driver "Big" William sends the coach into a skid, the back of the bus is left teetering over a cliff and the gold slides towards the rear doors. As Croker attempts to reach the gold, it slips further. The film ends on a literal cliffhanger with Croker announcing he has a "great idea". The italian job 2 10 movie clip shooting tigers 1969 hd Cast Noel Coward, who played Bridger, was godfather of the director, Peter Collinson. Bridgers fellow convict and confidant, Keats, was played by Graham Payn, Cowards long-time partner. Lana Gatto was the nom de credit of Hazel Collinson, otherwise known as Mrs. Peter Collinson. Michael Caines brother Stanley Caine also appears as one of Crokers gang. The gang also included Robert Powell, in his first film role. Frank Kelly appears as an uncredited prison officer, also in his first film role. American distributors Paramount wanted Robert Redford to play the lead.

Ending According to a "Making Of" documentary, producer Deeley was unsatisfied with the four written endings and conceived the current ending as a literal cliffhanger appropriate to an action film which left an opportunity for a sequel. The documentary describes how helicopters would save the bus seen on the cliff at the end of the first film. The grateful gang would soon discover that it is the Mafia that has saved them, and the sequel would have been about stealing the gold bullion back from them. In interviews in 2003 and 2008, Michael Caine revealed that the ending would have had Croker "crawl up, switch on the engine and stay there for four hours until all the petrol runs out... The van bounces back up so we can all get out, but then the gold goes over." The bus containing the gold would crash at the bottom of the hill where the Mafia would pick it up. The sequel would then have Croker and his men trying to get it back. Sponsored Links In 2008, the Royal Society of Chemistry held a competition for a solution that had a basis in science, was to take not more than 30 minutes and did not use a helicopter.

The idea was to promote greater understanding of science, and to highlight the 100th anniversary of the periodic table, on which gold is one of the 118 elements. The winning entry, by John Godwin of Surrey, was: Break and remove two large side windows just aft of the pivot point and let the glass fall outside to lose its weight; break two windows over the two front axles, keeping the broken glass on board to keep its weight for balance; let a man out on a rope through the front broken windows (not to rest his weight on the ground) who deflates all the buss front tires, to reduce the buss rocking movement about its pivot point; drain the fuel tank, which is aft of the pivot point, which changes the balance enough to let a man get out and gather heavy rocks to load the front of the bus. Unload the bus. Wait until a suitable vehicle passes on the road, hijack it, and carry the gold away in it.

Locations The chase sequences were filmed in Turin, except for the chase through the sewer tunnel, which was shot in the Sowe Valley Sewer Duplication system in the Stoke Aldermoor district of Coventry in the English Midlands, filmed from the back of a Mini Moke. The person on the far side who closes the gate at the end of sewer tunnel is the director, Peter Collinson. Collinson also appeared in the scene on the highway when the ramps get jettisoned: it is he (on the right) clinging to the back door of the coach as the Minis enter at speed. The jail that held Bridger was Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, Ireland. The meeting at the misty funeral was set in Cruagh Cemetery, in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. The office block that doubled as the Turin traffic control centre was Apex House, the Hanworth, Middlesex head office of the television rental chain DER. The training sessions shown for the Mini drivers were at the Crystal Palace race track in Upper Norwood, South London. The attempt to blow the doors off the bullion van, which led to its destruction and Crokers line, took place at Crystal Palace Sports Centre.

The Crystal Palace transmitter can be seen in the background. A portion of the car chase, a dance between the Minis and police cars, was inside Pier Luigi Nervis Exhibition Building with a full orchestra playing The Blue Danube. It was cut from the final version and appears as an extra on the DVD. The weir the Minis cross in the car chase is just down river from the Ponte Vittorio Emanuale I at the end of Via Po in central Turin. The final escape from Turin and bus crash was the dead end road from Turin via Ceresole Reale, Lago Agnel and the Colle del Nivolet. The road does not lead to France or Switzerland. Denbigh Close, Notting Hill, W11, was used as the location for Charlie Crokers (Michael Caine) house. The highrise apartment where the Turin job is planned was the penthouse flat at Alembic House (now known as Peninsula Heights) on the Albert Embankment. The property became the London home of novelist and disgraced MP Jeffrey Archer, and was later seen in films such as Theatre of Blood (1973), A Touch of Class (1973), and Sweeney!

(1977). Vehicles Roger Beckermanns orange Lamborghini Miura in the opening scene is actually two cars. The first was a Miura P400 that was sold as new afterwards. The car tumbled down the chasm by the Mafia bulldozer was another Miura that had been in a serious accident and was not roadworthy. According to the directors commentary on the DVD, despite the publicity the film would give to the Mini, the cars maker, BMC, only provided a token fleet of Minis and the production company had to buy the rest at trade price. Fiat offered the production as many super-charged Fiat cars as they needed, several sports cars for the Mafia confrontation scene, plus $50,000, but the producers turned down the offer because it would have meant replacing the Minis with Fiats. The Minis seen on screen carry registration numbers HMP 729G (Red), GPF 146G (White) and LGW 809G (Blue).

As at July 2012, a DVLA query indicates that two of these plates may still be registered; these, however, are not the cars used in the film as the film cars had "future dated" plates to make them current with the release date of the film, and as such would not be allowed to use them on the road. There were also numerous detail differences between the Minis used during filming and the launch of the "G" year suffix. According to the "making of" DVD extra, the Minis used in the chase scenes were all destroyed in accidents while filming the sewer sequence. As Croker walks through the garage where the Minis are being prepared, viewers hear that "Rozzers having trouble with his differential", and the back of the red Mini Cooper is jacked up where Rozzer is working. This is an inside joke since the Mini has front-wheel drive and does not have a rear differential. In the early 1960s, front-wheel-drive cars were new and asking a car mechanic to repair a Minis rear differential was a popular snipe hunt.

Gold cost $39 per troy ounce in 1968; so four million dollars in gold bars would have weighed about 3200 kg (7000 lb), requiring each of the three Minis to carry about 1070 kg (2300 lb) in addition to the driver and passenger. Since a 1968 Mini only weighs 630 kg (1400 lb), each of these vehicles would have had to carry 1½ times its own weight in gold. The coach at the end of the film was a 1964 Bedford VAL with Harrington Legionnaire Body, distinctive for its twin front steering axles. Following the filming, the coach had its improvised rear doors welded and was used on a Scottish school bus route until the mid-1980s when, according to the Legionnaire register, it was scrapped. Charlie Croker picks up his Aston Martin DB4 convertible from a garage after release from prison. The scene was mostly improvised, which caused visible lighting irregularities since the crew did not know where the actors would be. The original DB4 belongs today to a private English collection.

According to several sources, the "Aston" pushed off the cliff was a Vignale Lancia Flaminia mocked up as an Aston. The two E-type Jaguars that suffered from the Mafias revenge were restored to original condition. The black Fiat Dino coupe of Mafia boss Altabani was bought by Peter Collinson but became so rusty that only its doors remain. The Italian police cars seen around Turin were Alfa Romeo Giulias. The Italian police armoured car which escorts the gold convoy is a conversion of a former Second World War American M8 Greyhound armoured car. The original 37mm gun was removed and replaced with a water cannon. A Land Rover Series IIa Station Wagon registration BKO 686C was used to get to the convoy before attacking and was modified with window bars and a "Towbar". A Ford Thames 400E van was used for the football fans decorated van; this was referred to as the Dormobile, the name of a common camper-van conversion coachbuilder. The cross-Channel ferry featured in one scene is the MS Free Enterprise I. In 2007 the ship was still afloat as a day cruise ship in Greek waters.

However was scrapped in 2013. The "Chinese" plane delivering the gold to Turin is a rare Douglas C-74 Globemaster, of which only 14 were built and only four passed into private ownership. It had been abandoned in Milan by its owners and was moved to Turin for filming. It was destroyed by fire in 1970. Music The music for the soundtrack was written by Quincy Jones. The opening theme, "On Days Like These", had lyrics by Don Black and was sung by Matt Monro. The closing theme, "Get a Bloomin Move On" (AKA "The Self Preservation Society"), was performed by the cast and had lyrics featuring Cockney Rhyming Slang. Many incidental themes are based on British patriotic songs, such as "Rule, Britannia!", "The British Grenadiers" and "God Save the Queen". Similar Movies Michael Caine appears in The Italian Job and Gambit. Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). Stanley Baker produced The Italian Job and appears in Perfect Friday. Taxi (2004). Quincy Jones composed the music for The Italian Job and The Hot Rock.

Reception and legacy The film has received generally positive reviews, holding an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average of 7.2/10. Most positive reviews focus on the climactic car chase and the acting of both Michael Caine and Noel Coward, complimenting Peter Collinsons directing. It is considered highly evocative of 1960s London and the era in Britain as a whole. In a modern review Nik Higgins of Future Movies claims that the film makes Austin Powerss wardrobe appear drab and grey. He compliments Michael Caines ability to effectively portray the character of Charlie and also praises the music of Quincy Jones. Higgins particularly highlights how the music hops between smooth lounges like the opener "On Days Like These" and the latter "Get a Bloomin Move On" (The Self Preservation Society), which plays near the films end. It has also received some negative reviews, focusing on what is perceived as a predictable chase and a lack of real emotion. Vincent Canby, writing at the time of the films release, felt that the caper film had been made before and much better as well. He complimented the films technological sophistication, only criticising what he saw as an emotionally retarded plot.

Canby also expressed concern that Cowards appearance in the film, although intended to be kind, exploits him in vaguely unpleasant ways by surrounding his character with images of the royal family, which had not knighted him at the time. A contemporary review in Time Magazine felt that the film spent too much time focusing on the films caper as opposed to building the characters; it also criticised the car chases as dull and deafening. Although it received a Golden Globe nomination for "Best English-Language Foreign Film", the film was not a success in America. Caine blamed its failure on unattractive and misleading advertising. As a result, plans for a sequel were shelved. The movie was the 14th most popular at the UK box office in 1969. The film remains popular, however, and is considered one of the greatest British films in modern polls. James Travers of Films de France believes that the films enduring appeal rests in the improbable union of Michael Caine, Noel Coward and Benny Hill, whom he considers three of the best known [British] performers... in the late 1960s. He states that the film has a cult status and stands as a classic of its genre.

A novelization of the film, written by Troy Kennedy Martin and Ken Wlaschin, was published by Sphere Books in 1969. The book contains numerous differences to the film: for example there is a rival group of German gangsters called the Hamburg Syndicate who try to obtain Beckermans plans for the robbery, Croker and the three minis travel to Italy by yacht, and Professor Peach is rescued by the gang after he is arrested. The ending of the novel is also significantly different. The bus successfully crosses the border into Switzerland and two days later the gang and the gold arrive on a beach near Dover in a landing craft where they are met by Mr. Bridger and Luigi Altabani. Mr. Bridger tells Charlie Croker that they have come to an agreement to "divide Europe" and that the gold must be given back to the Italians. Since 2000 there have been two remakes of the film. The first was released in 2003 and also called The Italian Job, set in Los Angeles and starring Mark Wahlberg as Charlie Croker. It features Donald Sutherland as John Bridger, played as more of a father figure to Croker.

It employs the updated Mini Cooper for a chase towards the end. An official Bollywood remake of the 2003 film, called Players, was released in 2012. There is a video game based on the 1969 film, released for the PlayStation game console in 2001 and Microsoft Windows in 2002 and published by Rockstar Games. Large portions of the car chase scenes were lifted directly from the film for use in the MacGyver episode "Thief of Budapest" (Series 1, Ep 3) with the main characters setting up the story with three Minis visible at the start of the episode. Most of the end of the episode is footage from The Italian Job. The film was also the subject of a play, Bill Shakespeares "The Italian Job", written by Malachi Bogdanov, who used lines from Shakespeare plays to tell the story. It was performed in 2003 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

As part of a celebration of British culture at 2012 Summer Olympics, which were held in Great Britain, a replica of the bus was made and was exhibited balanced on the edge of the roof of The De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-sea. The famous dialogue and car blowing up scene were shown at the closing ceremony. The Italian Job (1969) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error Comic caper movie about a plan to steal a gold shipment from the streets of Turin by creating a traffic jam.

Director: Troy Kennedy-Martin (as Troy Kennedy Martin) Stars: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 31 titles created 19 May 2013 a list of 47 titles created 27 May 2013 a list of 47 titles created 22 Nov 2013 a list of 49 titles created 30 Aug 2015 a list of 24 titles created 5 months ago Title: The Italian Job (1969) 7.4/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. See more awards » Photos When his brother dies under mysterious circumstances in a car accident, London gangster Jack Carter travels to Newcastle to investigate. Director: Mike Hodges Outnumbered British soldiers do battle with Zulu warriors at Rorke's Drift. Director: Cy Endfield After being betrayed and left for dead in Italy, Charlie Croker and his team plan an elaborate gold heist against their former ally. Director: F.

Gary Gray An unrepentant ladies' man gradually begins to understand the consequences of his lifestyle. Director: Lewis Gilbert In London, a counter espionage agent deals with his own bureaucracy while investigating the kidnapping and brainwashing of British scientists. Director: Sidney J. Furie An elderly ex-serviceman and widower looks to avenge his best friend's murder by doling out his own form of justice. Director: Daniel Barber Edit Storyline Charlie's got a 'Job' to do. Having just left prison, he finds one of his friends has attempted a high risk job in Italy right under the nose of the Mafia. Charlie's friend doesn't get very far so Charlie takes over the 'Job'. Using three Mini Coopers, a couple of Jaguars and a bus, he hopes to bring Torino to a standstill, steal the Gold and escape. Written by Andy Topham <andrew.topham@aeat.co.uk> Introducing the plans for a new business venture: "The Italian Job." See more » Genres: 3 September 1969 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Faena a la italiana See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know?

Trivia The coach used in the film was a Bedford VAL with Harrington Legionaire bodywork. See more » Goofs During the opening sequence, most of the shots from inside the car show a cloudy day with no shadows, yet most of the exterior views show a sunny day. See more » Quotes Garage Manager : You must have shot an awful lot of tigers, sir. Charlie Croker : Yes, I used a machine gun. A rollicking heist flick with the best car chase ever put on film 6 September 2008 | by sme_no_densetsu (Canada) – See all my reviews "The Italian Job" is a comedic heist film that is mostly renowned for the extended car chase getaway. In it, a thief recently released from prison (Michael Caine) organizes a scheme to steal a shipment of gold bars by creating a massive traffic jam and using a trio of Mini Coopers to escape with the loot. The cast is pretty decent with the always dependable Caine perfectly cast as charismatic thief Charlie Croker, Noel Coward as the incarcerated backer of the titular job and Benny Hill in a small role as a computer expert obsessed with plump women.

Besides that there's no-one worth remarking on and not much acting that isn't up to snuff. The script is bold and inventive with much of the humour being understated and unpredictable. The heist itself is clever but the staging of the getaway is a real work of art. Again, there is an inventiveness that is quite refreshing. Nevertheless, I was starting to get a little tired of waiting for the heist to be set in motion. Finally, the ending caps the proceedings in memorable fashion. The direction by Peter Collinson is solid and above average for an action-comedy. The music, handled by Quincy Jones, is memorable but also characteristic of the era, meaning that it is unlikely to appeal to all tastes. If you're looking for a lighthearted crime caper this is just the ticket. I particularly recommend the film since it includes what is, in my opinion, the best car chase ever filmed. 13 of 15 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes The Italian Job: Original vs Remake (film essay) - SlamDunk! Studios SlamDunk!

Studios The Italian Job: Original vs Remake (film essay) Posted on March 15, 2009 at 9:45 AM Remakes are often a vain endeavour at updating a classic movie, or even worse, a shameless Hollywood attempt to cash in on a successful storyline. Nine times out of ten they are a completely unnecessary reworking of a movie that was just fine the way it was… or simply a waste of money. The problem with this remake is that it’s actually quite impressive. To properly establish which of the two films is superior, it is absolutely imperative that I analyse and consider every last detail. Throughout this report I will investigate their initial plotlines; the similarities and differences between the two; and most importantly the pros and cons of each version. After my examination is complete I should have narrowed my decision down to one absolute verdict.So let us begin the gruelling process of dissecting these two great films. Which one will come out on top? Will the timeless original prevail, or will its new and improved counterpart come out as top dog? It’s he old versus the new; tradition rivals progress. As the British classic locks shoulders with a Hollywood blockbuster, only one thing can be certain – the spaghetti will fly!

The Italian Job (1969) The original Italian Job is a British comedy, adventure film, directed by Peter Collinson and written by Troy Kennedy Martin. It was released in 1969 and was very popular in Britain, partly due to the presence of Michael Caine. Subsequent television showings and outings on video have established it as something of a national institution in the UK, with a cult following elsewhere. In 2004 the magazine Total Film named The Italian Job the 27th greatest British film of all time. Shortly after being released from prison, Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) hears about a ‘big job’ in Turin, Italy. The job is to steal 4 million dollars worth of gold arriving in Italy from China. With the help of Mr Bridger (Noel Coward), an incarcerated criminal mastermind who nonetheless runs a gangland empire from within jail, the plans for this high-risk operation are underway. In the first half of the film Charlie assembles his gang – which includes computer expert Professor Peach (Benny Hill), and a very minor character played by Robert Powell – and begins training and planning out the heist.

Charlie works out an ingenious strategy to steel the gold, by sabotaging the traffic-control computer and escaping, in spite of the resulting traffic jam, in nippy Mini getaway cars along a carefully planned route. Things go don’t quite as smoothly as they had planned, especially with the mafia breathing down their necks. In the end, however, they somehow manage to pull it off. They steel the gold, jam up the traffic, and zoom off in three high-powered mini coopers. This leads to an excellent car chase sequence through Italian streets, buildings, rivers, sewers, highways and rooftops, which lasts for several minutes. The gang makes their final getaway on a six-wheeled Bedford coach. Successfully on their way to Switzerland along a winding mountain road, the gang celebrates in the back of the bus. A mistake by the driver sends the coach into a skid, with the back end of the bus teetering over the edge of the cliff, the gold slipping towards the rear doors. As Croker attempts to reach the gold, it slips further, and the audience is left not knowing whether the coach, its contents, and its occupants survive – a literal cliffhanger ending.

Croker's last line, “Hang on lads, I've got a great idea!” left the film open for a sequel, although none emerged. Apart from the colourful vision of a certain time and place, the film is also notable for its inventive and exciting car chases and stunts, and its soundtrack, which opens with the song "On Days like These", by Matt Monro, and closes with Quincy Jones' "Getta Bloomin' Move-On" (usually referred to as "The Self Preservation Society", after its chorus). Kennedy Martin's screenplay is sharp and witty, with several memorable lines. After an over-exuberant explosives test obliterates an armoured vehicle, Croker's reaction is an exasperated "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" delivered to perfection by Caine. The Italian Job (2003) The remake of The Italian Job is a Hollywood action, crime flick, directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Donna and Wayne Powers. It was released in 2003, and although it is considered an intelligent and engaging film in its own right, it has never been fully recognized as anything to rival its classic predecessor.

After pulling off an amazing gold bullion heist from a heavily guarded palazzo in Venice, Italy, Charlie (Mark Wahlberg) and his gang – computer genius Lyle (Seth Green), wheelman Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), explosives expert Left-Ear (Mos Def) and veteran safecracker John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) – can't believe it when inside man Steve (Edward Norton) double-crosses them and keeps the gold for himself, killing John Bridger in the process. It is now one year later, and Charlie and his team are back for revenge. With the help of John’s daughter, Stella Bridger (Charlize Theron), a beautiful nerves-of-steel safecracker, they follow the backstabber to California, where they plan to re-steal the gold. The plan is simple – when the gold is being transported to the airport the team will intercept the van by tapping into Los Angeles' traffic control system, manipulating the signals and creating one of the biggest traffic jams in LA history. They will then transport the van into the sewers, cut any opening with a train, steel the gold, and make their getaway in three high-powered mini coopers.

Things of course do not go as smoothly on the day, especially when they find out Steve has updated his safe to state-of-the-art, or when in a last act of desperation, he pursues them in an assault helicopter. But in the end they prevail. They hijack the van; steal the gold, and Stella gets revenge on her father’s killer. While the gang escapes in a train, Steve is kidnapped by some Ukrainian’s whose relative he killed. So with 28 million dollars worth of gold spread between them, they all get to live out the rest of their days in luxury. Lyle gets his high-tech stereo system; Handsome Rob gets his dream car; Left-Ear gets his mansion; and of course Charlie gets the girl. And they all live happily ever after. Similarities & Differences The similarities between the two films are few and far between, but there are certainly enough connections for the latter title to be considered a remake. Besides the title, both movies share the same protagonist – Charlie Croker, and both are about a group of thieves who have banded together in hope of pulling off the ultimate heist.

They also both incorporate many of the same plot features, such as the use of a traffic jam to carry out the heist; the mini coopers; the stylishly choreographed car chases; and the robbery performed in Italy. There are many differences between the remake and the original, which in a way is good if you plan on getting your money’s worth out of a film and gives it a much more lasting appeal. Although I am sure the remake has suffered much criticism from die hard fans, for straying so much from the primary formula. Other than the few similarities I mentioned in the section above, virtually everything has been altered in some way. The setting; the period; the characters (except Charlie); and even the basic plotline have all distinguished themselves from the original. The film is set in the present (as opposed to the 1960’s); and although the initial robbery takes place in Venice, Italy, the majority of the film is played out in L.A. The biggest distinction between the two films is the conversion of plot. The original film was based around the robbery of some four million dollars worth of gold from an Italian shipment from China.

While the remake begins with a heist set in Italy, everything afterwards is new territory – someone betrays them and takes the money for himself. A year later they assemble a team to seek revenge on their crooked comrade, and take back what is rightly (although illegally) theirs. Pros & Cons In this final section I will be examining the pro’s and con’s of each film, respectively. I have also implemented a scoring system. Each films starts on a total of zero – one point will be added for every pro, and one point will be subtracted for every con (i.e. Pros – Cons = Total). This will also help me come to a decision for the final verdict. Pros ('69 Original): Is the original Italian Job Is considered a classic; even a cult-film by some Is entirely set in Italy Good mix of action and comedy Very funny at times Has some classic cinema moments (e.g.

parking the minis to hide from the police; driving up the ramp of the bus) Has some great and memorable quotes (“You’re only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!” Fun and enjoyable soundtrack (“We’re the Self-preservation Society” Some great stunts and action sequences, considering the time it was set Came up with the concept of creating a traffic jam to make a safe getaway Better minis Has the mafia in it By far, one of the greatest car chases committed to film Closes with a cliffhanger ending (literally) Cons ('69 Original): Doesn’t introduce any of the characters very well (except perhaps Charlie and Lorna) Poor character development Most of the characters were not very likeable or interesting Lacks any real villain Medium to low acting standard (even Michael Caine wasn’t up to his usually high standard) At times, very confusing for the audience Boring and slow-paced at times Unrealistic and often absurd At time a little too Hollywood [18 - 5 = 13] The Final Verdict So we’ve compared the two films – their similarities and differences; their good points and bad. We’ve analysed every aspect of the two films and now it is time to decide which is the best.

A comparison of the two storylines proved that, despite their differences, the defining element of The Italian Job plot is shared between the two. The significance of the original lies in key scenes and memorable quotes, and although none of the quotes can be redone, the traffic jam, the mini coopers, the car chase, and the heist have all been successfully translated into the remake, along with a much better plotline to boot. Other than these ingredients, and of course the presence of Michael Caine, the original really wasn’t that good at all. Furthermore, when the two movies were contrasted against each other in the Pro’s & Con’s section, we established that not only did the remake have more good aspects and less bad aspects, it also finished with a much higher score. Finally, I have come to a decision on the basis of my own opinion, in the interest of the mainstream audience; the quality of each film; and most importantly out of respect of the better portrayal of the story itself. So--as you may have already guessed--my decision has to be… the 2003 remake.

Not only is it simply a better movie, but it also has better and more definitive characters; improved directing, acting and editing; superior technologically; and incorporates a much more satisfying ending. Plus it appeals to a much wider, mainstream audience, and in addition it includes all of the key scenes and elements that made the original so popular in the first place.

Question: Who played computer expert 'Professor Simon Peach' in the 1969 film 'The Italian Job'?
Answer: BENNY HILL